Apr 3, 2008

Who Revived the Electric Car?

It hasn’t all been a bed of roses. A CEO has resigned and some last-minute changes were made to the vehicle’s drivetrain, but regular production of the 2008 Tesla Roadster has commenced, marking a historical milestone not only for tiny Tesla Motors but also for a watershed in the development of clean, zero-emissions vehicles. First unveiled as a prototype on July 19, 2006, the revolutionary Tesla Roadster generated an extraordinary response from people who were inspired by the possibility that attention-getting sports cars could be fast without producing harmful emissions and without burning gasoline or other fossil fuels.

Less than two years later, despite some hardships, the vision has become a reality as Tesla Motors begins production of its breakthrough electric vehicle. The company says its 2008 model year is sold out, and it is currently taking reservations for the 2009 model year Tesla Roadster. To date, over 900 Tesla Roadsters, which promise mileage rating equivalents of 135 miles per gallon, have been reserved by potential buyers.

While the introduction of the production Roadster breaks the logjam on electric vehicles that offer conventional car attributes, Tesla Motors is looking to use the electric-vehicle technology it gained in developing the Roadster to use in a new, more ambitious model. The company hopes to launch a five-passenger sports sedan in 2010.